Hey everyone!! I know it has been a while since I have checked in but if you have been following along on Instagram you will see I have been eating well and working out and have started hoppin’ around with one of my favorite companies!

I have partnered with StudioHop Fitness to not only hop around and check out the most amazing studios and workouts in San Antonio, but to also offer YOU a discount on your first month! Yes…YOU!!

I have visited one studio so far, but I have three other classes already scheduled and they are all DIFFERENT formats! That means you can too! What is StudioHop you ask? It is a monthly membership where you are able to visit any of the StudioHop studios! You read that right! With memberships starting at just $50/month, this is perfect if you are wanting to try something new, kick your current workout efforts up a notch, and/or want to add variety to your current routine. Plus, is you use code LEOPARDHOP20 you will enjoy $20 off your first month!! StudioHop has curated an AMAZING group of workouts in so many different formats and are currently in Texas and Oklahoma!

Now on to the workouts! Once you determine the membership you want to start with you can search for the workouts you want based on format, you search the individual studios schedules and you can search by day of the week too! StudioHop makes it so easy do the research before your first class, too, by including the studio’s website and phone number so you can see what you may need to bring to your workout!

When I arrived at Aerial Yoga Boerne, my instructor Janelle was there and so friendly. I let her know it was my first time and was immediately so excited I was there! I quickly signed a waiver and put my belongings and shoes away and proceeded to the room.

the silk hammock

I am not going to lie I got nervous. Very, very nervous. But Janelle was so comforting and let me know that she would show me how to do every pose before we did it and to take my time. She helped me find the proper hammock and measured it to my exact height and we got started!

We moved through the class based on the different yoga poses I had done before and that were familiar and it was great flow that built up to our final pose. Keep in mind you don’t just lay around in your hammock, you will feel different muscles engage and utilize your core, arms, shoulders and your hamstrings and glutes. I am sure the fear of slipping out was my fuel, lol, but it was a great workout. Janelle did an amazing job letting us know where we needed to feel it and where we needed to engage on our body to ensure that we were able to maintain the pose. We used different props, including a bolster and I used a pool noodle to help with the initial uncomfortable feeling that I was told would eventually subside with subsequent classes.

bow pose

This was an incredibly challenging class, not just because it was new, but because it encouraged me to get out of my HIIT/Barre comfort zone and challenge my body and more importantly, my mind. Not only was Janelle so patient and talked us through every pose, but she was right there by my side too when I had a slight panic moment when I couldn’t get out of a pose!

I made it

Here are my take-aways from the class:

Make sure when you are visiting any aerial yoga studio look up. Janelle let us know from the get go what we were hanging from, how much DYNAMIC weight the beams could handle (2000lbs per hammock) and that they were just for us, meaning we were not hanging from a structural beam.

Read the “before you visit” portion of any class you visit. I was prepared with a long sleeve shirt just in case I needed it for potential “silk burn” and carried my own yoga mat.

Show up early to ensure you have signed your waivers, asked any questions and are ready to go so the class can start on time, everyone will appreciate it!

Have Fun!! StudioHop has the best studios for you to visit so you will be in great hands and will always have an amazing workout!

Have you visited an aerial yoga class?? Let me know how your experience was or if you have any questions!! Stay tuned for my next workout!! Until next time…

I am here today to share my recipe for oatmeal protein cookies that I try to have in the fridge at all times. They take no time to make and with 5 ingredients (or less depending on what kind you are making) they are so fast, so clean and SO GOOD.

I found the base recipe many years ago on Pinterest. It consisted of oats and bananas and that lasted a few batches but I have since jazzed them up different ways! I have incorporated nuts, chocolate, blueberries, just almond butter and most recently chopped up strawberries. WIN!!

So without further ado, here is a quick, healthy and gluten free cookie anyone will love 🙂

As I am writing this we are 4 weeks and two days out from Blogfest 2017 and the excitement is growing!! I started thinking about what I packed last year, what I didn’t pack that I wish I had and what I definitely OVER packed. It was my first year to attend any sort of fitness convention, partake in multiple amazing workouts and learn from very knowledgeable influencers/bloggers. So I definitely made some packing loses but a few wins that I want to share with you!!

1. BRING A JACKET

Hear me out… yes we are heading to the desert this year and it just so happens the hottest day of the year is usually July 19th, but don’t let this desert heat fool you. I GUARANTEE inside the convention center and meeting rooms the a/c will be blasting. Make sure you stay comfortable and focused with whatever extra jacket/sweater/poncho you need to bring.

2. MULTIPLE OUTFITS

Obviously you will change outfits everyday, but something that helped me not FREEZE my behind off was changing after any workout that we had especially if I knew we were walking into another seated lecture/presentation. The extra set of pants, top, sports bra and yes underwear made all the difference. TRUST ME.

BlogFest 2016 Swag Bag we received upon check in

3. EXTRA LUGGAGE

This one makes me laugh because I was really proud of myself for fitting all of my workout wear, multiple running/training shoes, toiletries, etc…. in one bag. Yay!! NOT. Both me and my roommate Esther took turns running to the Target that was several blocks away to buy a SECOND piece of luggage. The amount of product/swag/goodies you will accumulate is INSANE!! In a very, very, very good way. I was exposed to product I have never heard of that has now made its way in to my daily life. Pack that extra duffle in your suitcase so you can fill it up with all of the things!

Yes you should pack enough outfits to wear you can change after every workout and pack enough underwear to last you through my second tip, but we are going to FITNESS CONVENTION. The vendors at the expo are amazing and many of them are pop up shops! Last year I found pieces from Lorna Jane, Yoga Smoga and even SweatPink! Just to name a few. You don’t need to bring EVERY black pair of leggings you own (do you hear me Marilena??) just enough to get you by. Save the room for your swag!

Esther and I were set…

5. SNACKS

Since last year was my first year to attend I didn’t know what the eating situation was going to be like. So in my duffle I not only carted around multiple outfits, underwear, a shoe change, socks, but I also had a jar of nutbutter, complete cookies, fig bars, protein bars, beef jerky, etc, etc… You really don’t need this. I remember hearing a comment from a presenter last year mention that we were the “best fed group at IDEA!!!” #truth There are snacks on snacks on snacks. Breakfast is offered, lunch is offered in addition to the snack breaks they have planned for us. And did I mention, the freebies you will receive in your swag bag and from vendors?! Unless you have a very strict diet/allergies you can go light on the snacks you pack, I didn’t eat everything I packed and you guessed it, had to cart it right back with me! So, again, save the room for your swag!!

I hope these tips have helped you in your packing plan! Many people brought their laptops and iPads to take notes during the lectures and presentations and the set up was amazing! There are definitely enough outlets to go around so don’t worry about battery life 🙂 If you have been to Blogfest before I would love to hear what your packing tips are! Leave them down in the comments with any questions you may have. See you in fabulous Las Vegas!!

See what I did there?!? Happy Hump day! For today’s #workoutwednesday and #nationalfitnessday I wanted to quickly share this push-up

See what I did there?!? Happy Hump day! For today’s #workoutwednesday and #nationalfitnessday I wanted to quickly share this push-up workout!

Now I have to tell you I dislike push-ups with a passion. They are tough, tough, tough and I just am not naturally good at them. But I decided that I needed to focus on this movement and I literally make myself do them every day. They are a great test of your strength and can help strengthen your entire body. They are essentially a moving plank!

Some notes to keep in mind while you do this:

always keep your shoulders over your wrists

your core should ALWAYS be engaged

your glutes should be engaged as well

use your breath to help you push up and push away the floor

try as many as you can on your toes but drop to assisted if your form starts to go

on the up and downs start in a forearm plank. As you move to the up position replace your elbows with your palms. This will ensure your shoulders stay stacked over your wrists.

Don’t forget to stretch your chest after this doozy. How did you do?? How else are you celebrating #nationalfitnessday ??

Happy Monday!!! I wanted to share the deets on an outfit that is on constant rotation in my daily life.

I have to start with this Alala top. It is long, flattering and on the shoulders and down the back it has an amazing mesh panel. I love the cap sleeves and high neck and because of the mesh down the back it doesn’t get too hot! Shop it here! I received it in my most recent My Sweat Style box and I swear its the one piece that gets worn at least twice a week! (you can read about past boxes here and here.)

Lastly, my sneakers. I can’t say enough about these run around town comfies. I found them on discount at Six02 about a year ago and the gold and animal print obviously caught my eye!! I looked to see if they were still on their website, sadly they are gone, however I did find these that might be shipping soon 🙂

Hope this quick post finds you well! Find any amazing camou/olive pieces out there?? Let me know in the comments below! (PS: use code MARILENAGER50 for 25% off at Carbon38)

So I know this post accidentally already posted but here it is again with the photos it was supposed to have!! Oh technology… 🙈🙈

Today’s post is a little different than what I usually post about but I wanted to share a few beauty finds that I have stumbled upon. With wedding prep in full swing (2 weeks and three days 😵) I Continue reading “WIWW – Beauty Finds”

Good Morning!! I am so excited to share this recipe with you and hope you will all join me in Turkey Burger Tuesday!!

These are so good and so tasty you won’t be able to eat just one! Typically I serve them with baked sweet potato fries along with the sliced cucumbers. You can always grab extra red onions, cucumber and your hamburger bun of choice and actually make a burger. I prefer the patty alone with some of the sauce on top. Trust me you will love these any way you choose to eat them!Continue reading “Greek Turkey Burger Tuesday”

Posts navigation

Welcome to A Punch of Leopard

Hey everyone! My name is Marilena! I currently reside in San Antonio, Tx where I am an Orangetheory Fitness Coach and Pure Barre Teacher! I love almond butter, burpees, champagne and pizza; a good cup of coffee, avocado toast and street art. I believe in balance and rest days.

Don’t forget to follow me on social media to get a peak behind the scenes of our classes and our every day life!